Such a decline is not expected here, said Dominic Wilson, a senior global economist at Goldman.

This went against the advice of global economists, but with full support from President Robert Mugabe.

"This was a very encouraging trade report," said Allen Sinai, chief global economist for Lehman Brothers.

"The fact is that the import explosion here has yet to really occur," said Allen Sinai, chief global economist of Primark Decision Economics in Boston.

Japan's financial woes are keeping global economists up at night, having bad dreams.

"We really are in new and uncharted territory," said David Hale, chief global economist for Zurich Financial Services.

"Ultimately, these rules will be set by political considerations," said Kermit L. Schoenholtz, chief global economist for Salomon Brothers.

But there is no denying the passion in his crusade against those he calls the elite global economists.

"This new security is a good idea that makes great sense," said Allen Sinai, chief global economist at Lehman Brothers, an investment banking firm.

Allen Sinai, chief global economist at Decision Economics, pointed to one reason Mr. Greenspan was so willing to rely on his gut instincts.